A well run and effective PRU/alternative provision centre in Merton is seeking a specialist Maths teacher to teach at their KS3/4 centre. The school has been part of a federation for a couple of years and whilst staff have been retained and the student body remains very similar the changes to systems, expectations, outcomes and the mood is unrecognisable. The school is a positive place to work where challenging students do exist but where real worthwhile change is produced through hard work, a great team ethos and a supportive SLT. Ofsted praised the school's approach to individualised work programmes, the work done by staff to help those students who had gaps in their learning, the school's strong community spirit and the strong partnerships with student's families - the school is rated as "Good with outstanding features".

I am seeking an experienced Maths teacher who is comfortable delivering the curriculum to GCSE level. Due to the nature of the school strong behaviour management skills and good rapport with challenging teens are key attributes for a successful applicant. Whilst experience teaching in a PRU or alternative provision setting could be helpful the Headteacher encourages applicants with the right skills and experience from mainstream secondary school.

The school is now under the leadership of an outstanding Headteacher who has come in from one of the best PRUs in the country in central London. Having run centres in one of the most challenging catchments in the UK for over 10 years with great success the Head decided to give something back to the area he grew up in and jumped at the opportunity to turn the ship around.

I have worked with the Head for nearly five years and he is a true inspiration. He is amazing at supporting and developing staff. He backs his staff to the hilt as he appreciates the challenges they face. To ensure staff morale and keep his eye on the ball he retains a partial teaching timetable ensuring that he doesn't become disconnected from the realities and dynamics within the school. Most importantly he knows all the students and their parents as individuals.

The school is made up of a highly regarded staff team who believe every child deserves to be able to access mainstream schooling and the national curriculum. The students have all been referred to school due to their inability to thrive in mainstream schools. Most are diagnosed as having Social, Emotional and Mental Health issues which means that they can be challenging. Classes are no larger than 6 pupils and as a result children are offered more individual attention than could be afforded in a mainstream school.

The school has a very specific ethos in terms of behaviour management with student behaviour being closely policed and high expectations reinforced in terms of behaviour, attitude and application.. Teachers and support staff will talk to students and de-escalate situations through other techniques.